Tuesday, February 18, 2014

1980 Peugeot UO-10 "Course" Part I

I thought that I had written about the Peugeot Course, which has been in the queue for at least 2 years, but I can find no post for it on the blog. With assistance from the excellent site www.retropeugeot.com I determined based on the color and the drilled brake levers that this is a 1980 model UO-10.

1981 USA Catalog

I went through a stretch where I had worked on a number Peugeots and really liked them and wanted one for myself but I was hitting the goldy-locks syndrome with my finds, they were all either too big (25" frame) or too small (21" frame) nothing was just right (23" Frame). So I went looking on Craigslist for a nice 57cm (23") frame and got lucky when I found one that was missing the non-drive side crank arm and pedal. That fact made it not too expensive especially when considering it was nice UO-10 which is a step up from the ubiquitous UO-8.

I had plans at one time to build this bike up as a sport tourer and so I bought some nice parts for it; a pantographed Peugeot crank, a gold cable & housing set to play off the decal color, a nice wide range IRD defiant 6 speed FW, peforated bar tape and alloy plugs etc.

goodies

After I bought myself a nice Velo Orange Rando frameset the idea of building this up as a bike for myself went by the wayside. With the Rando sold, I really would like to build this up just for me but due to economic circumstances this one will be going on craigslist when I get it done.

There are a number of cool details on this bike that I really like, in addition to the drilled brake levers its got a very cool engraved handlebar, a nicely detailed (under the muck) front and rear derailleurs.

Love a nice engraved handlebar

I am looking forward to getting this 34 year-old Peugeot cleaned up and polished to see what I've got.

Somehow I missed the post on the Fiorelli. That sure turned out nice and I am not surprised that it got snapped up. I also went back to re-read the post on the Velo Orange Rando. That bike was so sweet. Man, economics of this world really sucks that you had to let that one go. I am thinking that if you had some significant miles in on that bike the emotional attachment would have set in and a big not for sale sign would have been on that bike. Same thing with this Peugeot, you better not ride it before listing it for sale.Have fun with this project!!Jim

Thanks Jim I was pleased with the Fiorelli and also happy to get it done and sold ;-). Sage advice on not riding the Peugeot too much but it will probably get more than an around the block shake down. The upside of having to sell the VO Rando is that there always seems to be a new bike to lust after. I have already started a spreadsheet of potential frames for a new build once I am employed again.